Cut-off length indicating mechanism



p 26, 1939. H. w. BRUKER 2,174,360

CUT-OFF LENGTH INDICATING MECHMHSI Filed May 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Shoat I ga IEENTOR 421/ WW ATTORNEY! Sept. 26, W39. H. w. BRUKER CUT-OFF LENGTHINDICATING MECHANISU Filed May 15. 1959 2 she etsshqet 2 INVENTOR w m4.4

ATT RNEY3 llllllllll lllIlllllflllllllillllllllllllI Patented Sept. 26,1939 I 2,174,360

UNITED STATES PATENT .orrlca Hobart W. Bruker. Bordentown, N. J.,assignor to George W. Swift, Jr. Inc., Bordentown, N. J., -a corporationof New Jersey Application May 15, 1939, Serial No. 273.645

7 Claims. (01. 164-68) The invention relates to cut-ofi mechanisms bemade without departing from the invention such as are used to cut uplengths of corruin its broader aspects. gated paper board or the likeinto blanks of pre- In the drawingsdetermined lengths, and in its morespecific Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view aspects theinvention has special reference to taken through a cut-oif machineconstructed to. 5

machinery of the above character in which the operate in accordance withthe invention.

knife mechanism is continuously driven and the a Fig. 2 is a transversesection taken on the line material to be cut is fed continuously pastthe 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the knife mechanism,means such as a variable speed arrows.

l0 transmission being provided to adjust the ire- Fig. 3 is a detail topplan view of part of the quency of operation oi. the knife mechanism andmachine shown in Fig. 1. thereby regulate the length of the cut blanks.It Fig. 4 shows detached a panel board carrying frequently is desired tohave such machines push buttons which may be used in making operate athigh speeds and with precise accucertain of the adjustments.

l6 racy of cut, as well as with quick and accurate The invention isdisclosed as applied to a conadjustment while running, and heretoforethe tinuously driven cut-off of the type shown in practice has been toprovide the variable speed United States patent to G. W. Swift, Jr.. No.transmissionwith an indicating dial which was dated November 3. 1936,and Since the automatically shifted in position during adjustspecificconstruction and mode of operation of ment of the variable speedtransmission and many of the p s of h a ac are not 20 which was supposedto indicatethe length of cut essential to the present invention, theywill not corresponding to the various settings of the varibe describedin detail herein. For present purable speed transmission. However it hasreposes the machine may be understood as having suited from a variety ofcauses that length india servo-motor 41 (as numbered in the above catorsof the above character have not been Swift P t Which ju s the Setting ofe an accurate and reliable in actual practice, so that variable speedtransmission (as marked 42 in the operator could not be sure that blankswould the wi t p nt) r th p rp of regulating be produced correspondingto the indicated e length and s a Servo-moto 3 length, nor could hebe'sure that a given corwhich by altering the position of suitable vari-39 motion, or deviation from the indicated length a e otio mecha s notecessary to be of cut, would give him accurately the length of describedherein, alters the cutting speed of the blank he wanted. Frequentlyblanks had to be knife mechanism so as to keep the Sp of out removed asdelivered by the machine, measured Substantially equal to the Speed oftravel of the for length, corrections in setting made, and then web 38to be cut. The p r icul r machine illusmore blanks removed and measured,etc., in an t a s Cooperating cutters o knives I an 35 effort to checkthe accuracy of cut from time to f he ro ry p r d r p c v y r y time andconform the length or cut to specificashafts a a d a, which ainterconnected y tion. r spur gears 4 and 6. The sheet 38 may be fed Theprimary object oi. the present invention P the ves l and 2'by suitablefeed rollers accordingly is to provide a mechanism for indiassoc atedWith t -0 machine or adje- 40 eating the length of out which may berelied upon Bent e y- A to show quickly and accurately for any desired in accordance With the Present v t on I setting, how the length of blankwhich the maprovide along the P h of travel of the web 38 chine isactually producing, compares with specias it p s through the c a lengthof 5 fications and the corrections in setting if any c i d c mechanismwhich vis dr ven in which are necessary to conform to specifications.timed on o the knives I e this ech- Further related objects andadvantages of the enism e g adiustably u ed for movement invention willbe inpart obvious and in part toward and away from the knives, so thatit may specifically referred to in the description hereinbe spaced fromthe knives a distance equal to 5 after contained which, taken inconjunction with the length of the blank desired to be cut. Then,theaccompanying drawings, discloses a cut-ofl assuming that thisindicating mechanism immachine having an indicating mechanism appliedposes a mark on the web 38 atthe same time thereto which is constructedto operate in acthat the cutters l and 2 come into conjunction cordancewith the invention. It should be to cut the blank,'the mark willindicate precisely understood, however, that many changes may where oneend of the cut blank should be, at the 5s same time that the cutter 2 isdefining the other end edge of the blank. If the above mentionedindicating mechanism is located ahead of the cutters, it will mark wherethe position of the will be visually indicated to the operator as theweb 36 continues to travel through the machine, since the cutters willout either ahead of or behind the mark when the marked portion of thesheet passes between them. Or if the marking mechanism is located behindthe cutters so that it operates upon the forward portion of a blank atthe same time that the cutters are defining the rear edge thereof, themark will be placed just at the previously formed forward edge of theblank if the machine is properly cutting to length, and if the machineis not properly set the operator may readily observe that the mark isnot being placed in its proper location, and will then operate theservo-motor 41 to make the adjustment in the setting of the variablespeed transmission which is necessary to correct the error. Thus, solong as the operator sets the length indicating mechanism at the properdistance from the cutting position of the knives, which distance may bereadily indicated upon a scale, the length indicating mechanism giveshim an immediate and reliable indication as to whether the mechanism iscutting to the desired length, and if not indicates to him thecorrections necessary to be made.

In-the illustrated form of the invention the length indicating mechanismabove referred to, consists of a rotary arm it carried by a shaft 5|,which extends crosswise of the machine on the delivery side of thecutters I and 2, the ends of the shaft 5| being journaled in brackets 52which are slidable lengthwise of the machine along longitudinallyextending ways 53. The sheet marking member is driven in timed relationto the cutter 211 by means of a splined longitudinally extending spindle54 journaled in fixed bearings 55 and 56 at its opposite ends, andcarrying a bevel gear 51 which meshes with a bevel gear 5. on shaft 2a.One of the brackets 52 carries an arm'59 in which a bevel gear 8|) isrotatably mounted, this gear 60 surrounding the spindle 54 and beingsplined thereto. A bevel gear Cl is fixed to the adjacent end of shaft5i and meshes with bevel gear 60, the construction being such thatwhenever brackets 52 are moved toward or from the cutter mechanism, thearm I! and associated parts move along with the brackets, the splinedconnection between gear Ill and spindle 54 permitting the movement andthe spindle 54 at all times driving marking member I in timed relationto the cutter 2.

The arm 50 may carry at its outer end a small printingdie 62 whichreceives ink from a suitable inking rollerfij, so as to mark a line, dotor other suitable mark'flipon the web 38, each time the arm 50 comesaround to the web-engaging position shown in Fig. 1. ordinated inangular position with the knife 2 that it impresses a mark on web 38 atthe same time that the knife 2 begins to cut through the web, and thedistance between the active portion of the die 82 and the cutter 2 willthen correspond to the length of blank desired to be cut, 1. e., theoperator will have adjusted the position of the brackets 52 so that thisdistance equals the length of blank which he wishes to cut. Then The arm0 is so 00- if the machine is properly set for length of cut, the markmade by the die 62 will be impressed just at the forward edge of theblank which is then having its rear edge out out by the cutter 2. If themark should be impressed, for example, one-eighth of an inch behind theforward edge of the blank, the operator, will know that his machine iscutting one-eighth of an inch too long, and will operate the servo-motor,41 until the mark comes just at the forward edge of the blank. Theposition of the brackets 52 may be readily adjusted by suitable meanssuch as a cross shaft 64 journaled in the two brackets and carryiriggears 65 which mesh with racks 66 on the tops of ways 53, shaft 64 beingoperated by a suitable hand crank 61. The distance ,between the die 62and the cutter 2 when the last mentioned parts are in active position(which distance corresponds to the length to which the blanks aredesired'to be cut) may be indicated in any suitable manner as by apointer 68 on one of the brackets 52 which overlies a scale 69 on atable HI. Suitable conveyor belts II, running around rollers 12 and 13will usually be employed as previously known in the art, to feed the cutblanks along to the point of delivery.

It should be noted that the length indicating mechanism .is notdependent for its accuracy upon any constancy of relationship betweenthe various parts of the variable speed transmission for a given lengthof cut, and likewise in respect to the parts of the mechanism used toconform the cutting speed of the cutters to the speed of travel of thematerial being cut, or other parts of the cutter driving train proper.

The mechanism which indicates or measures the length of cut as comparedto the desired length of out, being positively related to the knives byconnecting driving mechanism which is in turn connected to the knifedriving train at a point located on the delivery side, so to speak, ofthe variable speed transmission, is not affected as to accuracy by anyirregularities in operation of the variable speed transmission. Forsimilar reasons the length of cut indicator will not be thrown out ofphase with the knives, by adjustments of the means (whatever such meansmay be) for conforming the cutting speed of the knives to the speed oftravel of the material being out, since this last mentioned means alsocomes ahead of the indicator in the driving train. In other Words, eventhough the variable speed transmission or other parts of the drivingtrain should wear or alter the relationship of one part to another forany other cause, either temporarily or permanently, such changes willnot be reflected in or affect in any way the length indicatingmechanism, since the latter depends only upon a proper setting of thecarriage which is made up of the brackets 52 and associated parts, suchthat the length indicating member 50 operates at the selected distancefrom the knife 2 when the latter is beginning to cut. The driving partsbetween the cutter 2 and the indicating member 50 may be readily made sothat they are not appreciably affected by wear or other causes ofinaccuracy such as have existed in connection with length of cutindicating mechanism used heretofore for similar purposes. Thus once thescale 69 be initially set correctly, accurate length indications arenormally obtainable over the entire life of the machine.

In operating the machine, the operator will stand in a positionconvenient to observe the operation of the indicating mechanism, and hewill 2,174.,seo

have located at his operating station, a suitable control board 14 asindicated in Fig. 4, carrying for example a "forward push button 15 anda reverse push button 15 controlling the servo- .motor 41 for eitherincreasing or decreasing the length of cut as may be desired; and also a"forward push button 11 and a reverse" push butquently feasible to throwthe indicating member 50 out of operation by disconnecting clutch 19 inspindle 54, so that the indicating mechanism is not used during theremainder of the run."

be of single jaw or equivalent construction (such that the markingmember 50 always runs in proper phase with knife 2) the indicating markswill of. course be out of coincidence with the edges of the blanks, andthe operator will operate push button 15 or 16 as the case may be, untilthe indication marks coincide with the edges of the blanks to be cutduring the run, and also he will operate push button 11, or 13 as thecase may be, to conform the cutting speed of the cutters to the speed oftravel of web 38. This latter operation will also conform the speed oftravel of the die 52 when in its active position, to the speed of travelof web 38. Depending upon the ratios of the gears 51, 58 and 60, 6|, theindicating member 50 may be arranged to afford an indication for eachblank as the latter is cut, or less frequently.

A mechanism of the above character has important advantages from thestandpoint of eliminating waste or blanks cut to odd lengths, since onaccount of the inaccuracies of the dials heretofore used it has beencustomary to set dial initially to a length somewhat longer thandesired, and then shorten the setting gradually until measurements onsuccessive blanks show that a blank of the desired length is being out.By the use of a mechanism operating in accordance with thepresentinvention, an accurate setting can be much more quickly andreliably arrived at, thus reducing the number of odd length blanksproduced in the meantime.

The invention also has substantial advantages from the standpoint oflabor saving. According to prior practice, cut blanks are delivered upona "take-away table requiring a takeaway man to jog and place them ontheir proper trucks. And in addition to this take-away" man, it has beennecessary to have another man to set the dial for the length of sheetrequired, inspect and measure the blank for proper length. In fact whenthe machine was running short orders, e. g., 200-300 blanks of. onesize, it took the entire time of one man to look after the setting ofthe dial. Using a mechanism operating in accordance with the presentinvention, the scale 69, as well as the push buttons 15-18, may bereadily so positioned that the take-away" man can check the blanks as tolength and make any necessary adjustmentsin the length of cut, alongwith his other duties.

While the invention has been disclosed as 'cari ried out by machinery ofcertain specific construction, it should be understood that many changesmay be made therein without departing from the invention in its broaderaspects within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a cut-off knife of the con-- tinuously driven type, avariable speed transmission in the driving train of said knife, meansfor adjusting said variable speed transmission to alter the frequency ofoperation of said knife, a marking mechanism located in the path oftravel of material being fed past said knife and in spaced relation tosaid knife, means for driving said mechanism in timed relation to theknife to periodically mark such material, means whereby the amount ofsaid spacing may be adjusted, and a length of cut indicator associatedwith said marking mechanism.

2. In combination, a rotary cut-off knife of the continuously driventype, a variable speed transmission in the driving train of said knife,means for adjusting said variable speed transmission to alter thefrequency of operation of said knife, a carriage mounted to be movabletoward and from said knife along the path of travel of. material beingfed past the knife, a periodically operating rotary marking mechanismmounted upon said carriage, means for driving said mechanism in timedrelation to the knife, and means for indicating the spacing between saidmechanism and the knife.

3. In combination, a cut-off knife of the continuously driven type whichis constructed and arranged to operate periodically onthe material beingcut, means for altering the frequency of operation of said knife, and a.length of cut indicator positioned to operate on the material being fedpast the knife, said indicator being positively driven in timed relationto the cutter, and means whereby the spacing between said indicator andsaid cutter may be altered.

4. In combination, a cut-off knife of the continuously driven type, avariable speed transmission in the driving train of said knife, a lengthof cut indicator located in the path of travel of material being fedpast said knife and in spaced relation to said knife, said length of cutindicator being positively connected to a moving driven in timedrelation to the knife and being adjustably mounted to be movable towardand from said knife. I

5. In combination, a cut-off knife of the continuously driven type, adriving train for said knife including in series a variable speedtransmission adjustable to regulate the frequency of cut of said knife,anadjustable means for conforming the cutting speed of the knife to thespeed of travel of the material being cut, a length of cut indicatorlocated in the path of travel of material being fed past said knife andin spaced relation to said knife, said indicator being mounted to bemovable toward and from said knife, said indicator being positivelyconnected to a moving part in the knife driving train which is locatedon the delivery side of said variable speed transmission and cuttingspeed conforming means, and being also driven in timed relation to theknife.

6. In combination, rotary cut-oil knives of the continuously driventypeand having a driving train including means for altering thefrequency of operation of said knives, a carriage mounted to be movabletoward and from said knives along the path of material being fed pastthe knives, a periodically operating rotary marking mechanism mountedupon said carriage, means for positively driving said mechanism in timedrelation to the knives including a shaft positively driven from movingparts in saiddriving train which are adjacent said knives, said shaftbeing slidably coupled to said marking mechanism, and means forindicating the spacing between said mechanism and the knives.

v 7. In combination, a cut-on knife, means for periodically operatingsaid knife to out material fed to the knife, said means being adjustableto vary the frequency of operation of said knife, a length of cutindicator located in the path of material being fed past said knife andin spaced relation to said knife, means for periodically operating saidindicator in timed relation to the knife, said indicator beingadiustably mounted to be movable toward and from said knife.

HOBART W. BRUKER.

